Reminds me of a man whom I had known and been friends with for quite some time, who was a “devout” active member of the Church, who was ultimately charged and convicted of child sex abuse. And, during the course of the whole thing it became clear that he was a serial offender, for which he is now in prison. Nonetheless, I have attempted to follow Christ’s admonitions regarding widows, orphans, and those in prison, so I have attempted at times to provide some level of emotional support to him, but it became more than even I could handle. He is in such a state of denial that all he wants to talk about is how he has always been wrongly accused and convicted, but despite the injustices, the whole thing is part of a grand divine plan for him to bring the gospel to the prison system. And, the thing he wants most is for me to validate those views.Robin Hood wrote: ↑January 27th, 2023, 5:02 am How about this for a corker!
It's not secret combinations (Skull & Bones etc) infiltrating the church, it's the church infiltrating the secret combinations!
Someone actually said that.
Likewise, I am sure there are those who, likewise in a state of denial, would assert that these chosen Brethren are likewise just doing yeoman work, infiltrating and bringing the gospel to the Gadiantons, secret combinations, and Illuminati. And, of course to do that, they must be members — and if all goes well, they will eventually convert Satan.
I have always been friends and on pretty good terms with many of my local church leaders (except one bishop who told me to sit down and shut up at the pulpit, and then admonished the congregation that nothing should ever be said from the pulpit that isn’t specifically directed and/or authorized by “Salt Lake City”).
Even among those whom I am on best terms, though, one of their favorite lines to me is to: “doubt your doubts.” One of them told me “sometimes I am tempted to have thoughts like that, but I know it’s the adversary trying to deceive me, so I force myself to doubt my doubts, and eventually I come back around — so always doubt your doubts brother, because our ways are not God’s ways; He knows best, and; the Brethren can never, and will never, lead us astray like the adversary can and does.
Those have been my experiences with my local leaders. Now my official calling and assignment is just to keep my mouth shut, not ask any questions, and not make waves and/or cause any trouble. And, I have also been banned from standing in the circle as a “righteous, sustaining priesthood holder” in baby blessings for my grandchildren.
Among other things, most local leaders I know seem to be in too big a state of denial to question almost anything, including a rapidly growing list of very legitimate concerns like: The safe and effective letter and scamdemic protocols, LGBTQ agenda policies, secret combinations, etc. They are like McDonalds franchise employees. Their position is that the Lord is directing and guiding every aspect of the work, which is all spelled out in the franchise handbook, so it is all covered and in very good hands.
